Apparatus for making artificial fire-place logs having colored flames

ABSTRACT

AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARITICIAL FIREPLACE LOGS HAVING FLAME COLORANTS AS ADDITIVE WHICH PROVIDE COLORED FLAMES CONTINUOUSLY DURING THE BURNING OF THE ENTIRE LOG. THE APPARATUS HAS MEANS FOR FORMING AND DROPPING AN ELONGATE, SLENDER MASS OF DISCRETE PARTICLES OF PYROGENIC COLORING MATTER INTO THE CAVITY OF AN ELONGATE ARTIFICIAL LOG MOLD; MEANS FOR FILLING THE LOG MOLD WITH ARTIFICIAL LOG MIX, PREFERABLY CONTAINING AN ADDITIONAL QUANTITY OF FLAME COLORANTS ADMIXED THEREWITH; AND MEANS FOR COMPRESSING THE LOG MIX IN THE MOLD TO FORM A LOG. THE DISCRETE PARTICLES OF COLORING MATTER FOUND WITHIN THE MOLD ADHERE SUPERFICIALLY TO THE SURFACE OF THELOG, PREFERABLY ALONG A LOCALIZED AREA OF THE LOG CORRESPONDING TO THE TOP AND FRONT SIDE OF THE LOG AS IT IS POSITIONED IN A FIREPLACE.

eh W71 w. H. BROCKBANK APPARATUS FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL FIREPLACE LOGSHAVING COLORED FLAMES Filed June 20, 1968 INVENTOR. WILLIAM HUGHESBROCKBANK AT TORNE YS United States Patent US. 18-20C 4 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for producing artificial fireplace logshaving flame colorants as additives which provide colored flamescontinuously during the burning of the entire log. The apparatus hasmeans for forming and dropping an elongate, slender mass of discreteparticles of pyrogenic coloring matter into the cavity of an elongateartificial log mold; means for filling the log mold with artificial logmix, preferably containing an additional quantity of flame colorantsadmixed therewith; and means for compressing the log mix in the mold toform a log. The discrete particles of coloring matter found within themold adhere superficially to the surface of the log, preferably along alocalized area of the log corresponding to the top and front side of thelog as it is positioned in a fireplace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field This invention relates to artificialfireplace logs and an apparatus for producing them.

State of the art Artificial logs for burning in fireplaces have longbeen molded from mixtures of combustible materials, such as sawdust andwax. Although many attempts have been made to produce both natural andartificial fireplace logs having flame colorant additives, prior to thepresent invention no such logs have been generally available on themarket.

Objectives It was a principal purpose in the development of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that would pro duce artificialfireplace logs having flame colorants, which provide colored flamescontinuously during the burning of the entire log, in an economical andefficient manner and with relatively low capital investment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the invention comprises meansfor forming and dropping a slender, elongate mass of dry, discreteparticles of pyrogenic coloring matter preferably along one longitudinalside of a log mold cavity formed for the production of artificial logsfor burning in fireplaces; means for filling the log mold cavity with anartificial log mix, such as a mixture of sawdust and wax, whereby afireplace log is molded against the previously deposited particles ofpyrogenic coloring matter with the coloring particles adheringsuperficially to the surface of the log longitudinally along a localizedarea of the log; and means for compressing the log mix in the mold toform an artificial log which will exhibit colored flames continuouslyduring the burning of the entire log.

It is preferred to have one longitudinal side of the log formedrelatively flat, so that the flat side will serve as the bottom of thelog when placed upon a fireplace grate or the like. The localized areaof adherent flame colorant particles is preferably placed along the topand front side of the log as it is placed in the fireplace. In thismanner the localized colorant area faces the front of the fireplace andPatented Sept. 21, 1971 provides the best results at the least cost forachieving colored flames during the entire period in which the log isburning.

THE DRAW ING The accompanying drawing illustrates a specific embodimentof the apparatus which is presently contemplated as the best mode ofcarrying out the invention in actual practice:

FIG. 1 illustrates the log mold and device for dropping the particles offlame colorant into the mold cavities;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1,the apparatus of the invention has a mold cylinder 10-, which isrotatably mounted on shaft 25 within a stationary hollow cylinder 11.The mold cylinder 10 contains a series ofi mold cavities 13 formedtherein and opening longitudinally along the longitudinalcircumferential surface 14 of the mold cylinder 10. As the mold cylinder10 rotates, the inner walls of the hollow cylinder 11 form a relativelyflat base which encloses the longitudinal opening of each mold cavity13. The oppo-- site ends of each mold cavity 13 are open in the moldcylinder '10; however, as the cylinder 10 is in operational statuswithin the apparatus, end plates 20, 21, as shown in FIG. 2, normallyseal off the opposite ends of the mold cavities 13.

A hopper 15 is provided at and along the top of the stationary hollowcylinder 11. The hopper 15 is divided into two sections 16, 16a, both ofwhich are connected with the stationary hollow cylinder 11 throughopenings 17, 17a. The first hopper section 16 contains the artificiallog mix 18 which is dropped through opening 17 into the log cavity 13 asthe log cavity is rotated counterclockwise past the opening 17.

The hopper section 16a containing dry, discrete partioles of flamecolorant 18a is located immediately in advance of the hopper 16containing the artificial log mix 18, upstream from the direction ofrotation of the mold cylinder 10. The flame colorant particles 18a arechanneled into a measuring slot 19 conveniently located on thecircumference of, and extending longitudinally along the length of, arotatable shaft 24. As the shaft 24 is rotated, the pyrogenic coloringmatter 18a contained in the slot is released through the opening 17a inthe stationary hollow cylinder 11 into the mold cavity 13. The colorantparticles 18a are released from the measuring slot 19 when the moldcavity 13 has rotated to a position immediately below the hopper opening17a. At this point, the colorant particles 18a fall through the opening17a downwardly into the mold cavity 13, with the principal portion ofthe coloring particles 18a coming to rest at the bottom 19a of the moldcavity 13.

As the mold cylinder 10 rotates, the mold cavity 13 which has justreceived a quantity of coloring particles along the bottom 19a.advancesto the opening 17 of the log mix hopper 16. A portion of the log mix 18is deposited in the mold cavity 13, and the mold cylinder '10 continuesto rotate approximately one quarter turn to a position in alignment withthe first hydraulic ram 22, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, thefirst hydraulic ram 22 extends through an opening (not shown) in the endplate 20 into the mold cavity 13 and compresses the artificial log mixinto a compact log form. The ram 22 withdraws, and the mold cavity 13rotates past the ram 22. The loose coloring particles which have notimpressed themselves into the log at 19a fall along the longitudinallength of wall 19b as the mold cavity rotates. On the opposite side ofthe central shaft 25, the mold cavity 13 comes into alignment with thesecond ram '23 which extends into the mold cavity 13 through a secondopening (not shown) in the end plate 20, and discharges the molded logfrom the apparatus through opening 31, as shown in FIG. 3. The resultinglog has flame colorant particles adherent to the surface of the adjacentlongitudinal sides of the log corresponding to the wall 19b and thebottom 19a of the mold cavity 13.

In the described embodiment of the apparatus, the logs which are moldedin the mold cavities have one longitudinal side which is relatively flatformed against the surface of the stationary hollow cylinder. This is anadvantage, in that it provides a relatively stable surface for use asthe bottom of the log as it rests upon a fireplace grate or othersurface, so that the log does not move or roll as it burns. When soplaced in the fireplace, the two sides of the log having flame coloredparticles adhering thereto can be positioned to face the front of thefireplace. The flames emanating from the log upon ignition are brightlycolored due to the presence of the superficially adhering flame colorantparticles along the top and front of the log. As the adhering flamecolorant particles are consumed, the pyrogenic coloring matter withinthe log replenishes the surface colorant particles available forcoloring the flames by rising with the vaporized waxy fuel portion ofthe log to the surface thereof.

If so desired, the hopper containing flame colorant particles can bedivided longitudinally into several subsections, each of which containscoloring matter producing a different colored flame. The variouscolorant particles are then deposited in the mold cavity, and from thereonto the log in bands or strips, each extending around the circumferenceof the log. The resulting log produces different colored flames in bandsacross the length of the log for a pleasing and unusual flame effect.

In order to facilitate the placement of the log by the user properly inthe fireplace, so that the portions of the log dusted with flamecolorant face the front of the fireplace, it is contemplated that theartificial log can be commercially packaged with directions on thewrapper setting forth the proper placement of the log for best results.

The terms pyrogenic coloring matter, flame colorants, and flame coloringmatter all refer to additives which, when burned, provide a coloredflame. The flame colorants include such well known metallic salts ascopper, barium, potassium, lithium, calcium, and strontium salts. It ispreferred, however, to use dry, particulate polyvinyl chloride (PVC) asthe flame colorant, which is disclosed in my co-pending applicationentitled Artificial Fireplace Logs Which Burn with Colored Flame andProcess For Making Same. For convenience in operating the apparatus, thescreen particle size of the pyrogenic coloring matter should preferablynot exceed 20 mesh although a larger size can be used.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications of the contemplated best mode may be used to achieve thesame results. It is of importance in the apparatus that a measuredamount of dry, discrete particles of flame colorant be deposited alongthe length of a log mold cavity, so that the deposited coloring matteradheres to a longitudinal portion of the artifical log molded therein.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for producing artificial logs which burn with coloredflames, comprising:

a stationary hollow cylinder a log mold adapted to be rotated about alongitudinal axis and containing a plurality of elongate log moldcavities, each cavity being adapted to receive pyrogenic coloring matterthrough an opening extending along the longitudinal dimension of themold cavity; means for rotating the log mold; means for depositing ameasured amount of pyrogenic coloring matter through the longitudinalopening along the length of each mold cavity;

means for depositing artificial log molding material into each moldcavity;

means for compressing the artificial log molding material in the moldcavity to form an artificial log having superficially adherent pyrogenicflame coloring matter upon the surface thereof, and wherein the meansfor depositing a measured amount of pyrogenic coloring matter comprisesan elongated vessel mounted above the log mold and rotatable about thelongitudinal axis, and means for simultaneously rotating the log moldand the elongated vessel at relative speeds such that a measured amountof coloring matter from the vessel is deposited into each mold cavityalong the length thereof.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an elongate container forartificial log molding material is mounted above the log mold, thecontainer having a discharge orifice extending along the longitudinallength of the container, the orifice adapted to deposit artificial logmold material in each mold cavity as the log mold rotates; and whereinthe elongate vessel for depositing pyrogenic coloring matter is disposedat the discharge orifice of a container for coloring matter, thecontainer for coloring matter being disposed above the log mold inadvance of the container for log molding material, so that coloringmatter is deposited in each mold cavity before the log molding materialis deposited therein.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the two hoppers areindividual longitudinal compartments of a single hopper structure.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the mold cavity is ofapproximate horse-shoe configuration in transverse section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,.090 11/1921 Barlett185(Q)X 1,545,266 7/1925 Morsa 185(C)X 1,477,358 12/1923 Johnson 185(C)1,645,678 10/1927 Affholder 185(E) 2,307,371 1/1943 Hileman 18CoolingDigest FOREIGN PATENTS 333,908 2/ 1920 Germany 185 ROBERT L. SPICER,111., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 18--5RR, 20H

